£41m investment nears completition

Construction of Mytholmroyd’s new £41m flood alleviation scheme is almost complete. It will provide greater protection to around 400 homes and businesses this winter, as well as local infrastructure, schools and other public amenities.

The Environment Agency which has declared the project as ‘winter ready’ will have the final touches including scour protection works and stone cladding to the walls, completed in the New Year.

The investment has seen the construction of new, raised and improved flood walls across Mytholmroyd, Brearley and Luddenden Foot, the relocation of Caldene Bridge, widening of the river channel at key locations and flood proofing of many buildings next to the River Calder and Cragg Brook.

The flood defences have been developed by the Environment Agency in partnership with Calderdale Council. Design and construction of the scheme was carried out by the Environment Agency’s main contractor VBA, a joint venture comprising VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business.

Paul Swales, senior flood risk advisor for the Environment Agency, said: “We are delighted that the Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme is ready to better protect the community this winter.”

Swales paid tribute to the hard work of the project team who had completed the project despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for climate change and resilience, said:

“Ensuring that the Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme is winter-ready is a major milestone in the ongoing partnership work to protect Calderdale from flooding, and a really positive step forward in our fight against climate change.

“A huge amount of joint work has gone into this scheme, and we are delighted that the community is now better protected. We know this will bring much-needed reassurance to local residents and businesses who are sadly familiar with the devastating impact of flooding.

“The Council, our partner organisations and communities are doing everything we can to reduce flood risk and build resilience. The Mytholmroyd scheme is part of a wide range of continued engineering-, nature- and community-based measures across the whole borough.”

Chris Blenkarn, VBA senior project manager said: “We are happy to have been involved in such an important project, supporting the Environment Agency and Calderdale Council to improve village defences, and ensure they are in place for the Christmas period”